Telescopic derrick and locking means therefor



Feb. 2, 1960 A. H. WILKINSON ETAL 2,923,381

TELESCOPIC DERRICK AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 t 22 l 10- 38 m J K 36 1 36 ,L 22 2e 42 a -s2 s2 16 34 6 as Q m 40 i Q 4/ 4 5 Fig. 2 INVENTORS A. H. Wilkinson 6- 1 9. 1 BY W 6. Newhouse ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1960 A. H. WILKINSON ETAL 2,923,381

TELESCOPIC DERRICK AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 20, 1.954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /I8 e2 5 W? INVENTORS 43 AHWf/kinson By 14 6. New/muse P19 5 I ATTORNEY M I j TELESCOPIC DERRICK AND LOCKING MlEANS THEREFOR Alvin H. Wilkinson and William G. Newhouse, Tulsa, Okla, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Cabot Shops, Inc., Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 20, 1954, Serial No. 405,218 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-14) This invention relates to improvements in derricks and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved portable, telescopic derrick.

The invention contemplates a telescopically constructed derrick having a hydraulic mechanism for erecting or expanding the derrick sections and automatically locking the derrick sections in operating position. The mechanism automatically disconnects the derrick sections at the beginning of the retracting or telescoping movement of the derrick sections. The locking and unlocking of the derrick sections is entirely automatic without reliance upon the operator or operators erecting the derrick, except for starting and stopping the hydraulic mechanism.

An important object of this invention is to increase the safety of erecting and retracting a telescopic type derrick.

Another object of this invention is to expand and lock the telescoping sections of a derrick in a minimum of time with a minimum of manpower. v

A further object of this invention is to eliminate substantially all possible human errors in erecting a portable telescopic derrick.

Another object of this invention is to reduce the materials and machinery required for erecting and contracting a telescopic type derrick.

A still further object of this invention is-to reduce the materials and machinery required for erecting and contracting a telescopic type derrick.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a telescopic derrick in an erect position.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the derrick shown in Fig. l; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 with portions of the derrick removed and portions of the derrick shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, reference character 2 generally designates a portable derrick mounted by suitable braces 4 on a truck or the like 6. The derrick 2 is constructed with a lower section 8 and an upper section it? in the usual manner, whereby the upper section 10 may be telescoped downwardly into the lower section 8. When erected as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower end 12 of the upper section 10 extends downwardly into the upper end 14 of the lower section 8.

Each of the derrick sections 8 and 10 are formed with four upwardly converging leg members 16 and 18 respectively and the spacing between the leg members 18 of the upper section 10 is smaller than the spacing between the leg members 16 of the lower section 8 to permit the tele- Patented Feb. 2, 1960 scoping action. Suitable cross bracing 20 is secured around the lower derrick section 8 forming super-imposed bays in the usual manner. Also, cross bracing 22 is secured around the legs 18 of the upper section It A mud hose 24 is secured in the lower derrick section 8 and spaced platforms 26 and 28 are constructed in the upper derrick section iii. It will be observed that the lower platform 26 may be pivoted upwardly on the upper derrick section it when the derrick sections are telescoped as will be hereinafter set forth. The usual ladder 3%) is preferably secured along the derrick sections 8 and 10.

An elongated piston 32 is secured by brackets or braces 34 at its lower end to the lower derrick section 8 and extends upwardly through substantially the entire length of the section 8 into the lower end of acylinder 36. The cylinder 36 is secured by brackets 38.: to the upper derrick section 18. A longitudinal bore (not shown) is provided through the central portion of the, piston 32 and provides communication between a suitable hose 40 connected to the lower end of the piston 32 and the cylinder 36. The hose 40 is connected to a suitable pump (not shown) whereby liquid may be forced through the piston 32 and into the cylinder 36 for raising or lowering the cylinder 36 with its connected upper derrick section iii, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. It will be understood that the hose 40 also permits an exhaust of fluid fromthe cylinder 36 upon lowering the derrick section 10.

As is morev clearly shown in Fig. 2, each leg 18 of the upper derrick section it} extends into a guide member 42 secured in, a vertical position in the lower derrick section. 8. The legs 18 slide through the guide members 42 and are supported therein when the derrick is in an expanded or erected position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by a novel holding mechanism generally indicated at 44 and shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 6.

The holding or locking mechanism 44 comprises a horizontally extending guide shaft 45 supported-at its opposite ends by brackets 48 from the lowermost crossbracing 22 of the upper derrick section 10. Two helical com-.

pression springs 50 are disposed around the guide shaft 46 and are anchored at their inner ends to suitablestops- 52. Each spring 50 is anchored'atv its outer end. to a sleeve 54 slidably disposed on the guide shaft,46 immediately inward of the brackets 48. The sleeves 54 slide.

longitudinally on the guide shaft 46. and, are retracted against the action of the springs 50 by link members. 56,.

which are pivotally secured at their inner ends to a cross lever 58, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The cross lever 58 is in turn rigidly secured to an actuating shaft, 60 (Fig. 3) extending transversely from the guideshaft- 46 and rotatably supported by brackets 62 at its opposite ends from the derrick section 18. An actuating arm 64 is rigidly secured to the outer end of the actuating shaft 60 i for purposes as will be hereinafter set forth. A locking. arm or bar 66, having a notch 68 in the lower surface thereof, is pinned to the lower end of the cross arm 58 and extends into a U-shaped bracket 70 extending downward from the right hand sleeve 54 as shown in Fig. 6.

A pair of connecting rods 72 are pivotally secured to each sleeve 54 and extend outwardly toward the legs 18'.

of the derrick section 19. Each connecting rod 72 has a clevis 74- adjustably secured to the outer end thereof. The clevises 74 interconnect the connecting rods 72 to pawl members 76 pivotally secured to the lower end of each leg 18.

As shown in Fig. 5, each pawl 76 is provided with a flat top plate 78 having a downwardly extending semi-circular flange 80 on the outer edge thereof. The plates 78 are of a size to cover the lower end of the respective der= by bolts 86 at their upper ends to the respective leg 18. It will thus be seen that the pawls 76 may pivot away from the legs 18 and inwardly with respect to the derrick 2. A bolt 88 is secured to the opposite sides of a semi-circular flange 80 of each pawl 76 to receive a bearing member 90 in turn connected to the respective clevis 74.

Each guide member 42 is semi-circular in cross section to provide a sliding fit of the respective pawl 76 therein and is provided with an enlarged semi-circular section 92 at the upper end thereof as is clearly shown in Fig. 5, A shoulder 94 is formed on the inner periphery of each enlarged section 92 and has an upwardly extending circumferential flange 96 on the inner edge thereof for purposes as will be hereinafter set forth.

Operation The derrick 2 is normally transported with the upper derrick section telescoped into the lower section 8 and with the entire derrick lying in a horizontal position on the truck 6. When it is desired to erect the derrick 2, the telescoped sections 8 and 10 are raised to a vertical position by a suitable hydraulic ram 98 illustrated schematically in Fig. 1. After the legs 16 of the lower derrick section 8 come to rest upon the earth or other supporting surface, fluid is forced'under pressure through the hose 40 and the piston 32 into the cylinder 36. It will then be apparent that the cylinder 36 will be raised over the piston 32 and raise the upper derrick section 10 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As the derrick section 10 moves upwardly through the derrick section 8, the springs 50 of the holding mechanism 44 exert an outward force on the sleeves 54 and connecting rods 72 to retain the pawls 76 into contact with the guide members 42. When the section 10 reaches a pre-determined position, the pawls 76 ride over the shoulders 94 and spring outwardly into contact with the enlarged sections 92 of the guide members 42. The pressure exerted through the hose 40 and piston 32 is then reduced to permit a settling or downward movement of the upper derrick section 10 until the pawls 76 come to rest upon the shoulders 94 of the guide members 42 as illustrated in Fig. 5. It will then be apparent that the pawls 76 support the legs 18 of the upper derrick section 10 and will maintain the upper derrick section 10 in an erected or expanded position for the normal operation of the derrick 2. The flanges 96 on the shoulders 94 will prevent an inadvertent or accidental movement of the pawls 76 ofi of the shoulders 94 during the normal vibrations of the derrick 2.

When it is desired to move the derrick 2, fluid is again forced under pressure through the hose 40 and piston 32 into the cylinder 36 to raise the derrick section 10 a short distance. the derrick section 10, the actuating arm 64 of the holding mechanism 44 contacts a tripping block 100 which is rigidly secured by an angled member 102 to the cross brace forming the next to top bay of the lower derrick section 8 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The block 100 causes a downward movement of the actuating arm 64 to rotate the actuating rod 60 and cross arm 58 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 6. It will then be seen that the link members 56 are moved inwardly to retract the sleeves 54 against the action of the springs 50. The retracting movement of the sleeves 54 will be transmitted through the connecting rods 72 to pivot the pawls 76 inwardly in the derrick section away from the respective guide members 42. The pawls 76 are pivoted inwardly a suflicient distance to be clear of the shoulders 94 and flanges 96. Also, the locking bar 66 will be moved outwardly through the U-shaped bracket 70 until the notch 68 moves into the bracket 70. The weight of the locking bar 66 then causes a downward pivoting movement of the bar 66 until the bottom of the During this slight upward movement of U-shaped bracket receives the notch 68 and effectively locks the pawls 76 in a retracted position. The pressure is then gradually released on the hose 40 to permit a slow downward movement of the upper derrick section 10 into the lower derrick section 8.

As the derrick section 10 reaches its lowermost position (not shown), the locking bar 66 of the holding mechanism 44 contacts a suitable bracket 104 (see Fig. l) secured to one of the piston support braces 34 in the lower portion of the derrick section 8. The locking bar 66 will then be raised relative to the brackets 70 and release the holding mechanism 44. Whereupon the springs 50 will force the sleeves S4 outwardly and pivot the pawls 76 outwardly into contact with the guides 42. The pawls 76 will then be in position to engage the shoulders 94 of the guide members 42 upon a subsequent extension of the derrick 2.

It will be understood that the platform 26 is pivoted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when the derrick 2 is extended and pivoted upwardly around the derrick section 10 prior to the telescoping of the section 10 into the section 8.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention will materially increase the safety of erecting and telescoping a portable derrick and will provide an expansion and locking of the derrick in a minimum of time with a minimum of manpower. All possible human error is substantially eliminated and the mechanism required for the automatic erecting, locking, unlocking and contracting action is reduced to a minimum.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A mechanism of the character described for use with a derrick having a movable upper section telescoped into a lower section, comprising means on the derrick for raising and lowering the upper derrick section in the lower derrick section, vertical guides in the lower derrick section slidably receiving the upper derrick section, flanged shoulders in the upper portion of the guides, spring loaded pawls carried by the upper derrick section arranged to automatically engage the flanged shoulders when the upper derrick section reaches a predetermined raised position, a linkage system carried by the upper derrick section and connected to the pawls for retracting the pawls inwardly from the guides, an actuating member for operating the linkage system, and a tripping block secured in the lower derrick section in the path of movement of the actuating lever, whereby the actuating member will be contacted by the tripping block upon upward movement of the upper derrick section from said predetermined position to actuate the linkage system and retract the pawls for subsequent downward movement of the upper derrick section.

2. A mechanism of the character described for use with a derrick having a movable upper section telescoped into a lower section, comprising means on the derrick for raising and lowering the upper derrick section in the lower derrick section, vertical guides in the lower derrick section slidably receiving the upper derrick section, flanged shoulders in the upper portion of the guides, a locking mechanism carried by the upper derrick section for automatically engaging said flanged shoulders when the upper derrick section is raised to a pre-determined position, said locking mechanism comprising a guide shaft secured in the upper derrick section, spring loaded sleeves slidably disposed on the guide shaft, link members connected to the sleeves arranged to retract the sleeves upon movement thereof in one direction, an actuating arm connected to the link members arranged to move the link members and retract said sleeves, a locking bar connected to the link members and at least one of the sleeves for locking the sleeves when the sleeves are moved to a retracted position on the guide shaft, and pawls pivotally secured to the upper derrick section and said sleeves for engaging the flanged shoulders when the upper section is raised to said pre-determined position, and a tripping block secured in the lower derrick section in the path of movement of the actuating arm, whereby the actuating arm will be rotated upon upward movement of the upper derrick section from said pre-determined position and retract the pawls inwardly from the flanged shoulders.

3. A mechanism of the character described for use with a. derrick having a movable upper section telescoped into a lower section, comprising means on the derrick for raising and lowering the upper derrick section in the lower derrick section, vertical guides in the lower derrick section slidably receiving the upper derrick section, flanged shoulders in the upper portion of the guides, a locking mechanism carried by the upper derrick section for automatically engaging said flanged shoulders when the upper derrick section is raised to a pre-determined position, said locking mechanism comprising a guide shaft secured in the upper derrick section, spring loaded sleeves slidably disposed on the guide shaft, link members connected to the sleeves arranged to retract the sleeves upon movement thereof in one direction, an actuating arm connected to the link members arranged to move the link members and retract said sleeves, a locking bar connected to the link members and at least one of the sleeves for locking the sleeves when moved to a retracted position on the guide shaft, and pawls pivotally secured to the upper derrick section and sleeves for engaging the flanged shoulders when the upper derrick section is raised to said pre-determined position, a tripping block secured in the lower derrick section above and in proximity with the flanged shoulders in the path of movement of the actuating arm for contacting the actuating arm and retracting the pawls inwardly upon upward movement of the upper derrick section from said predetermined position, and means in the lower portion of the lower derrick section arranged to contact the locking bar upon downward movement of the upper derrick section and release the pawls for engagement with the flanged shoulders upon a subsequent upward movement of the upper derrick section.

4. A mechanism of the character described for use with a telescopic derrick having a movable upper section telescoped in a lower section and means for raising and lowering the upper section, comprising supports in the lower derrick section, engaging means in the upper derrick section arranged to move transversely in the upper derrick section for an automatic engagement with and dis-engagement from the supports, link members carried by the upper derrick section and connected to the engaging means for moving the engaging means between the engaged and disengaged position, a locking bar in the upper derrick section connected to the link members and the engaging means for locking the engaging means when the engaging means are moved to a dis-engaged position, and tripping means in the lower derrick section arranged to contact the link members and alternately the locking bar for moving the engaging means at predetermined positions of the upper derrick section in the lower derrick section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,492 Gill Mar. 5, 1901 1,824,866 Bristol Sept. 29, 1931 2,204,713 White June 18, 1940 2,331,558 McEwen et a1 Oct. 12, 1943 2,331,559 McEwen Oct. 12, 1943 2,589,080 Heinish Mar. 11, 1952 2,829,741 Selberg et a1 Apr. 8, 1958 

